After weeks of speculation, an announcement was made on Tuesday night that Western retailer Sheplers had been purchased by Gryphon Investors of San Francisco. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

 

Sheplers was founded in 1899 in Wichita and today operates 19 stores, in addition to a catalog and Web site. The company has about 650 workers.

 

A Gryphon spokesman said no immediate changes were planned; however, long-time CEO Mike Anop will retire and will be replaced by Mark Syrstad, formerly president and CEO of Crafts Retail Holdings Corp.

 

Syrstad has spent nine years in Western retailing and worked with Gingiss Formal Wear, a Gryphon company. The group also owns G.I. Joe's Inc., a full-line sporting goods retailer in the Pacific Northwest. For more details, http://www.kansas.com/101/v-print/story/136747.html.

Interesting!  Thanks!  I have ordered a few things out of there catalog!

GI Joes is now just called Joes.  If ya need anything overpriced its the place to shop.